Up and down season for Ole Miss Soccer

Ole Miss soccer entered Southeastern Conference play with a 4-4-1 record, which included a 3-1 loss to nationally ranked No. 8 Santa Clara and a 2-1 loss to No. 20 Memphis. Against Memphis, Ole Miss scored an early goal, but the Tigers rallied for a 2-1 come-from-behind victory. 

The Rebels started conference play with a rough four-game road trip which included three nationally ranked teams. They scored only two goals during that span, but both came in a 2-1 upset win over No. 25 Auburn.

“It was an up-and-down season,” Ole Miss soccer coach Matt Mott said. “When you look at our record, we were too inconsistent from start to finish and we have to improve on that. The biggest challenge was us finding a rhythm in our play and being consistent in our play. At times, we defended well. At times, we didn’t. At times, we attacked well and scored some good goals. At times, we were ineffective up top.”

Following a  scoreless double-overtime draw against former coach Steve Holeman and Georgia, Ole Miss jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against Tennessee, but lost 3-1. After another scoreless double-overtime draw against LSU, Ole Miss trailed Arkansas 3-0 in the first half, and any hopes of an SEC Tournament berth were on life support. However, the Rebels rallied for a 4-4 double-overtime draw against the Razorbacks, which sparked a late postseason push after back-to-back victories against Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

“It showed the character of the team,” Mott said. “I felt like up until the last 22 minutes against Mississippi State, we showed great character in that last stretch. We kept fighting and kept finding ways to stay alive (for the SEC Tournament).”

Needing a win against in-state rival Mississippi State to make the SEC Tournament, senior Taylor Cunningham gave Ole Miss an early 1-0 lead, but it was not to be, as the Bulldogs would come back to win 2-1, bringing the Rebels’ season to an abrupt end. 

“It should burn,” Mott said. “It should be something that stays with them for a while. I know it is for us coaches. 

When you have it all in front of you and you’re not able to seal the deal, it’s hard for a competitor and that’s what happened. We didn’t finish the job and it’s painful.”

After a season of transition, Ole Miss played its best soccer down the stretch save for the 2-1 season-ending loss to Mississippi State. For next season, the Rebels only lose senior Taylor Cunningham while juniors Kelsey Breathitt and Abbie Curran will return from injury. 

The coaches and players will have an extra year of familiarity and experience for next year, which bodes well for the future of the program. 

“I felt like the girls bought in and the effort was there,” Mott said. “I think they were buying into everything, so I feel good about that going forward and where the program is going. (This season) is a building block. It’s a starting point for us to get better. And we have to be more committed and work harder as we look forward to the spring.”